Pause and consider all the ways God has brought blessings to your life
By Dean Collins
What if our everyday pace is a tool of the enemy that keeps us from gaining a proper perspective of God’s goodness and grace? What if our busyness results in weak and pitiful prayers? I suspect that whether you are an early or later riser each morning, once you get going, the pace of the day has a tendency to rob you of realizing how much God has done for you and is still doing for you, simply because of who he is and why he brought you into the world.
It often happens to me that my schedule grips me and I find myself rushing from meeting to meeting and phone call to phone call at a pace that limits my ability to process all that is happening around me. It is tough to gain perspective and take time to express praise and gratitude to God when our business and busyness control us.
We can learn much by considering David’s time of prayer and praise that we find in 2 Samuel 7:18-29.
Rest from his enemies
After years of struggle, hiding in caves, avoiding death threats, and wondering when and how he would fulfill the role God gave him based on the instructions of Samuel, David finally took his throne. The opening line of 2 Samuel 7 says this: “Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies . . . .”
What a different moment for David. He is no longer being pursued by Saul. He is no longer hunting or foraging for food. The king looked around and saw that he was living in the house of a king. And he also noticed that his house was much nicer than the tent where God’s ark was located. What a change of venue for a shepherd boy from the hills outside of Bethlehem. Take time to read the first 17 verses of 2 Samuel 7 where a wonderful conversation occurs between David, Samuel, and God. The result of the conversation is that God indicated that his favor was on David and that through David’s house or lineage the world would literally receive God’s blessing.
Look where you’ve brought me!
When David heard the word of the Lord through Samuel, he sat before the Lord and prayed: “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? “ This phrase caught my attention this morning as I slowed down and sat before the Lord and read his Word. As I sat staring at these words, I considered that this was not just a good question for David to ask God but also a good question for me and maybe for everyone.
David pondered what he had done to possibly deserve the favor of God. He pondered how far God had taken him from his humble roots. David hadn’t aspired to be a king. He would have never imagined it. In these few verses, we see David coming to the realization that it is only by God’s divine favor and blessing that he could sit on the throne.
But there was more he could not get his head around. Samuel spoke of future blessings for King David. Blessings so great they would be from King David’s lineage. A kingdom would be established that would last forever. His throne would not end because King Jesus would one day establish the kingdom of God and reign forever and bring salvation and life to all who call his name. We are the beneficiaries of this blessing David was trying to grasp as he considered how far God had brought him.
Humbled and amazed
When I think of how far God has brought me over the decades, I am humbled and amazed at his blessings. I suspect if you take a few minutes to consider what God has done in your life, you will have the same reaction.
How many times have we been forgiven?
How many addictions and struggles has God delivered us from?
How many relationships has he blessed us with?
How many illnesses has he healed?
How many financial struggles have been solved?
How many times has God intervened in our marriages and family life?
How much wisdom has he given?
We could go on and on. And as we consider what God has brought us through, we might very well end up in a spontaneous outpouring of praise and worship to God. And like David, we might realize God's desire that we ask him to fulfill his every hope for us in the days we have left in this life.
Dear Father, who are we, and what is our house, that you have brought us this far?! What more could we ask of you when you have already blessed us with forgiveness, transformation, and abundant life? There is none like you, O Lord God! You have delivered on every promise. You are great and mighty. And because you have granted us access, we boldly come before you and ask for your favor and blessing on all of our days. Our desire is to be vessels of your glory and love to the community around us. May it be so. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your time with God’s Word
2 Samuel 7:1-29 ESV
Photo by NikkiZalewski at istockphoto.com
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